Game table



March 22, 1932. s.- J. SCHULDT 0 GAME TABLE Filed Nov. 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l "1' 1- BY 3/ 33 (@104 Jim,

ATiORNEYS March 22, 1932. s. J. SCHULDT 1,850,420

GAME TABLE Filed Nov. 5. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \3/ l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 22, 1932 4 UNITED STATES SOPHIE J. SOHULD'I', OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY GAME TABLE Application filed November 3, 1930. Serial No. 492,963.

The present invention relates to game tables and its general object is to provide a table which may be divided to enable the playing of several games thereon.

One object of the invention is to provide a table having a top panel which may be removed and used for playing a game. .A further object is to provide a table upon which another game may be played while the top panel is removed, thus permitting the playing of two games simultaneously. A further object is to provide a table which will be. attractive in appearance, in which the pieces used in playing games may be stored I when the table is not in use, and which may be inexpensively constructed.

Several embodiments of the invention are described in this specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, ig. 1 is a perspective view of a table and a top panel therefor, the top panel shown as removed; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section of the table shown in Fig. 1 with the top panel in place; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the broken line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing a modified construction of the locking means for'securing the top panel in position. Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views showing another modification in the construction of the top panel and its locking means.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates a game table having a rectangular frame 10 to which is secured a bottom panel.

11 and in which fits a top panel 12. In Fig.

1 the top panel 12 is shown with its under side uppermost. The top of the panel 12 is flat and when in position in the frame 10,

as illustrated in Fig. 2, the top is flush with the frame 10, making a smooth table surface. .Means are provided whereby the .top panel 12 may be securely locked in position in the frame 10. To this end Fig. 1 shows tongues 15, 16, 17 and 18 on the top panel frame 20.

The segment 21 of the table frame 10 is movable. In the segment 21 are the grooves 24 and 25 andin the frame 10 (see Fig. 2) are the grooves 26 and 27 for receiving the tongues 15, 16, 17 and 18.

Referring to Fig. 2, the movable segment 21 has at its ends the tongues 30. and 31 which cooperate with the grooves 32 and 33 respectivelyin the frame 10. Stops are provided in the grooves 32 and 33, as shown in 5 Fig. 2, as for example the stops 35 and 36, to limit the movement of the segment 21. To permit an operator to grasp the segment 21 the frame 10 is cut out as shown at 42 and 43. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, a spring catch 40 is provided to maintain the segment 21 in closed position.

Fig. 3 shows in section how the tongue 18 cooperates with the roove 27 to maintain one end of the top panelin position in the frame 10 While the tongue 15 cooperates with the groove 24 in the segment 21 when the segment is closed, to lock the other end of the top panel in place. This figure illustrates the space between the bottom panel 11 and top panel 12 in which pieces such as checkers 45 may be stored when not in use.

Fig. 4, which is a section along the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 2, illustrates the mechanism of the segment 21. It shows the tongue 31 cooperating with the groove 33, in which it slides, and the stop 35' held in place by a brad 50, for limiting the movement of the segment 21. The tongue 15 on the top panel frame is shown in positionin the groove 24. 'The so spring catch 40. and its cooperating plate 41 are permanently secured respectively .in "the frame 10 and the segment 21. v

Fi 5 shows strips 51'.and52 whichform abut-ments for the top pa-iiel l2, when it'is in position. These strips aresecured along the inside of the frame 10, the strip 51' asshown in Fig.1 and a c'orresponding strip along the opposite sideo'fftlie frame 10.

F ig. 5 shows'a modification of the movable/ segment of the frame 10. The embodiment illustrated comprises a movable segment 61 which is pivotally connected at one end to the frame by the hinge 52. At the other end a spring catch 63, like that shown at 40 in Fig. 4, is mounted in the frame 10 with a cooperating plate in the end of the segment 61. In the segment 61 are grooves 65 and 66 for receiving the tongues and 16 on the top panel frame.

Figs. 6 and 7 show anothermodification of the invention. This structure difiers from those already shown in that the segment corres onding to the segment 21 of Figs. 1, 2, 3 an 4 is made integral with the top panel 12. The same tongues, 17 and 18 on the top panel and and 31 on the movable segment, are provided and the same grooves 26, 27, 32 and 33 are provided in the frame 10. However, the stops 35 and 36 found in the groove 32 and corresponding stops in the groove 33 (Fig. 2) are omitted in this modification.

With this description of the construction of the several embodiments illustrated in the drawings, an ex lanation of the uses and operation of the ta le will be given. Referring to Fig. 2, when the to panel 12 is in position in the frame 10, as ustrated, and the segment 21 is closed, a table with a smooth surface is presented which ma be used for the ordinary purposes to whic tables are put.

If desired, the top panel 12 may be decorated as a checker board as illustrated. Referring to Fig. 1, the bottom panel 11 and the inside of the top panel 12 may be decorated as backgammon boards. As backgammon is ordinarily played by only two persons, a table such as that illustrated and escribed herein is a at advantage, as b removing the top ane the table is divid into two separate boards which may be used for the entertainment of four or more persons. In the embodiment illustrated in igs. 1, 2 3 and 4, the removal of the top'panel is effected by pulling out the segment 21, raising the edge of the top panel adjacent thereto and sliding the tongues 17 and 18 out of their grooves.

The tongues 15, 16, 17 and 18 are so placed as to be centered on the edge formed ointly by the panel 12 and the panel frame 20. The gl-rooves 24 25, 26 and 27 are so located in the ame 10 that the to panel 20 may be locked in the frame 10 wi either side up.

The space between the bottom panel 11 and the top planel 12,'when the top panel is in place wit the smooth side u permost, it is of suflicient depth to contain t e pieces used in pla the ame. Iii tie em iment illustrated in Fig. 4,

the operation is the same except for the segment 21 which, being hinged at one end, is opened on that hinge to release the tongues 15 and 16, instead of being moved laterally like the segment 21.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6

and 7 the top panel 12v and the se ent corresponding to the segment 21 of ig. 1 are permanently secured together and they are inserted in and removed in the frame 10 as a unit, as will readily be understood from the drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game table, a frame including an end member and a pair of side members, a removable panel adapted to be inserted in said frame intermediate said side members, and panel-retaining means for locking said panel to said frame consisting of a tongue and a groove adapted for cooperation with each other as between said end member only and one end of said panel and a segment movable with respect to said frame and adapted to establish an interlocking connection as between said frame and the other end of said panel.

2. In a game table, a frame including an end member and a pair of side members, a removable panel adapted to be inserted in said frame member intermediate said side members, and panel-retaining means for locking said panel to said frame comprismg a segment interlocked with and slidably connected to said side members intermediate the same, a tongue and a groove adapted for cooperation with each other as between said end member only and one end of said anel and a tongue and a groove adapted or cooperation with each other as between said segment only and the opposite end of said panel to establish an interlocking connection between said frame and said opposite end of said panel through said segment as an intermediary.

3. In a game table, a frame including an end member and a pair of side members, a removable panel adapted to be inserted in sa d framemember intermediate said side members, panel-retaining means for locking said panel to said frame comprising a se ment hinged at one end to one of said side members and adapted to assume a position intermediate said side members, securing means for detachably connecting the other end of said segment to the other of said side members, a tongue and a groove adapted for cooperation with each other as between said end member only and one end of said panel and a tongue and a groove adapted for cooperation with each other as between said segment only and the op osite end of said panel to establish an inter ocking connection between said frame and said opposite end of said panel through said segment as an intermediary.

4. In a game table, a frame including an end member and a pair of side members, a removable panel adapted to be inserted in said frame intermediate said side members, panel-retaining means for locking said panel to said frame consisting of a tongue and a groove adapted for cooperation with each other as between said end member only and one end of said panel, a segment coextensive with one edge of saidpanel and ermanently secured thereto, said segment being movable with respect to said side members intermediatethe same, and segment-retaining means for interlocking said segment with said frame consistinglof tongues and grooves adapted for 10 respective cooperation with each other as between the ends only of said side members and the opposite ends of said segment.

a In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

SOPHIE J. SCHULDT. 

